Electromagnetic switching device with movable ratchet

ABSTRACT

The disclosure comprises an electric relay switching device having a solenoid coil; a magnetically responsive armature adapted for reciprocal movement; a pair of electrical switching contacts; a cam device rotatably secured to said reciprocating armature and adapted for reciprocation therewith, said cam device being formed with a plurality of recesses; stationary detent means adapted to cause said cam to rotate upon reciprocation thereof, said switching means being responsive to the rotation of said cam device.

United StatesPatent 1 Paul [54] ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCHING DEVICE WITHMOVABLE RATCHET [75] Inventor: William Paul, Escondido, Calif.

[73 As signee i S wi t chpaclr System s, Inc: series Beach, Calif.

[22] Filed: Sept. 27, 1971 [21] Appl. No.2 183,877

[52] US. Cl 335/140, 200/153 J, 335/190 [51] Int. Cl.... H0lh 3/34, HOlh50/64, HOlh 50/58 [58] Field of Search 200/156, 153 J, 160;

[56] 6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,892,059 6/1959 Keirans335/140 X 3,281,565 10/1966 Grady et a1. 200/160 UX 2,721,914 10/1955Cheltz 200/156 X 3,137,176 6/1964 Wright 200/156 UX FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,046,772 10/1966 Great Britain 200/156 1111 3,739,308 June12, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-RobertA. Vanderhye Attorney-Edgar H. Kent [57] ABSTRACT.

The disclosure comprises an electric relay switching device having asolenoid coil; a magnetically responsive armature adapted for reciprocalmovement; a pair of electrical switching contacts; a cam devicerotatably secured to said reciprocating armature and adapted forreciprocation therewith, said cam device being formed with a pluralityof recesses; stationary detent means adapted to cause said cam to rotateupon reciprocation thereof, said switching means being responsive to therotation of said cam device.

4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Pmmwmw 3,739,308

. F IG. 6

INVENTOR.

WILLIAM PAUL ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCHING DEVICE WITH MOVABLE RATCIIET Myinvention relates to a stepping relay having a reciprocating cam memberadapted to rotate and upon rotation to cause electrical switching meansto alternate between open and closed position.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a ratchet device for asolenoid switching device which is adapted to cause rotation of a cammeans upon both forward and reverse stroke of the solenoid armature tothereby permit the housing and operation of the mechanism in arelatively shorter space.

A further object of my invention is to produce a relay type switchingmechanism that is inexpensive to produce and positive and reliable inits action.

Further advantages will become apparent from the drawings andspecifications descriptive thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the relay shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the relay shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of relay embodying myinvention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the modification shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the ratchet mechanism as embodied in themodified form shown in FIG.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are top and side views respectively of the detent orpawl used in the modification shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view as taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, I have provided av base plate upon which ismounted an electromagnetic coil 16. It will be understood that the coil16 is formed with an axial bore adapted to receive in telescopicrelation an armature l8.

Armature 18 is formed with an annular collar l9'.A compression spring isdisposed over the armature I8 between the collar 19 and the end of thecoil 16 whereby the spring 20 is biased to return the armature to itsouter or extended position when no electric current is flowing throughthe coil 16.

The armature 18 is also formed with a diametrically disposed slot 22 atits outer end. A combination ratchet-cam wheel 23 is disposed for freerotation in said slot 22. The cam 23 is formed with a plurality ofnotches 25 and 26 in spaced relation around the periphery. It will benoted that alternate notches 25 and 26. are different in depth, thepurpose of which will become readily apparent later.

Oppositely acting detents 27 and 28 are secured. to the base 15 andareadapted to engage the notches 25 and 26. The detent 28 extends beyondthe notch 25 and carries an electrical contact means 30 whichalternately closes and opens with respect to contact 31.

When detent 28 is resting in notch 25, the contact.v

points 30 and 31 are open. When detent 28 is resting in notch 26 thecontacts 30 and 31 are closed.

A guide member 33 extends upwardly from the base 15 and is formed withan upwardly extendingsection 34. The purpose of the guide member 33 isto prevent the armature 18 from rotating about its axis and from beingdisplaced out of the bore of the armature 16.

In the operation of the device, electrical energy is applied to the coil16 creating a magnetic field which draws the armature 18 into the boreof the coil (to the right in FIG. 1). Since the detent 27 engages thenotch 25, the the ratchet wheel 23 is forced to rotate clockwise (FIG.I) to thereby advance the next successive notch 25 or 26 into registrywith detent 28. Upon the coil 16 being deenergized, the spring 20 causesthe armature to move to the left.

Since detent 28 engages one of the notches 25 or 26, the ratchet wheelis again forced to rotate clockwise to thereby advance the cam-ratchetwheel to position detent 27 in the corresponding notch 25 or 26 for; thenext on or off positioning.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 10 inclusive,.l have illustrated a modifiedform of the ratchet wheel. In the modified form all parts and elementswhich are the same as the form illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusivehave the same reference numbers.

The principal modification rests inthe configuration of the ratchetwheel, cam and detent mechanisms. In the modified form, as illustratedin FIGS. 4 to 10 (inelusive) I have provided a ratchet wheel 35 havingradially disposed ratchet teeth 36 depending from the under surface ofthe wheel 35. It will be noted that the wheel 35 is hexagonal in planconfiguration to thereby act as a cam upon rotation.

The detent means comprises a base 37 having upwardly extending segments38, 39 and 40. The segments 38 and 40 engage the ratchet teeth 36 sothat upon inward movement of the armature l8 segment 38 causes theratchet wheel 35 to rotate clockwise (in FIG. 4) sufficiently to causesegment 40' to engage a ratchet tooth. Upon return of the armature toits extended position by reason of the compression spring 20, thesegment 40 causes the ratchet wheel 3'5to rotate further in a clockwisedirection to thereby cause the cam to close or open the contacts 30 and31.

Segment 39 of base 37 performs the same function of retention as theguide member 33 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

I have illustrated my invention in what I consider its most practicalembodiments. The drawings are for illustrativepurposes only and are notintended as limitations. The only limitation intended and'the true scopeof my invention is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A switching device comprising:

an electromagnetic coil having an axial bore;

an armature disposed in said bore for reciprocation on energization ofsaid coil and having one end extending beyond one end of said coil;

cam means rotatably disposed on said extending armature end and beingformed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced alternatelyrelatively shal low and relatively deep ratchet teeth;

detent means engageable with said cammeans to cause said cam means torotate in only one direction upon reciprocal movement of said armature;

electrical contact members movable alternately to 0 or off position; and

actuator means engageable with'said ratchet teeth to move saidcontactmembers alternately to onposition and off position on successivereciprocations of said armature.

the axis of rotation of said cam means from said actuator means.

4. A switching device as characterized in claim 3 wherein said cam meansis mounted for rotation through a slot in said end of the armature.

1. A switching device comprising: an electromagnetic coil having anaxial bore; an armature disposed in said bore for reciprocation onenergization of said coil and having one end extending beyond one end ofsaid coil; cam means rotatably disposed on said extending armature endand being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spacedalternately relatively shallow and relatively deep ratchet teeth; detentmeans engageable with said cam means to cause said cam means to rotatein only one direction upon reciprocal movement of said armature;electrical contact members movable alternately to on or off position;and actuator means engageable with said ratchet teeth to move saidcontact members alternately to on position and off position onsuccessive reciprocations of said armature.
 2. A switching device ascharacterized in claim 1 wherein said armature is normally biased inextended position.
 3. A switching device as characterized in claim 1wherein said detent means includes a fixed detent engageable with saidratchet teeth at the opposite side of the axis of rotation of said cammeans from said actuator means.
 4. A switching device as characterizedin claim 3 wherein said cam means is mounted for rotation through a slotin said end of the armature.